During Saturday’s Spring Game, Nebraska coaches invited Jack Hoffman, a 7-year old brain cancer survivor, to run in a 69-yard touchdown in front of an emotional 60,000 fans.

Video of the play has drawn more than 500,000 views on the internet and inspired headlines with ABC News, USA Today and ESPN Sportscenter.

Jack’s father, Andy Hoffman, tells KETV Newswatch 7 he got a phone call from Nebraska coaches Friday night. The Hoffmans have been part of the Husker football family since 2011, when little Jack met his hero, former Nebraska I-back Rex Burkhead, soon after being diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer.

Burkhead watched Jack from the sidelines Saturday.

"I told him congrats, that he looked good; I told him he needs to be the new running back here,” said Burkhead. “It's awesome. Jack, he's a fighter, he's a strong kid. Just to see him run out here, enjoy the Husker experience, it's a dream come true, especially for kids growing up in the state of Nebraska. For Jack to get out here and do it, I know it made his day.”

Hoffman told KETV Sunday that the Spring Game was not only a special day for Jack, but another chance to get pediatric brain cancer on the national agenda.

“If this is God's way of doing it, then so be it,” said Hoffman. “Get the country talking about pediatric brain cancer.”

Hoffman also said this is just one more example of the character of Coach Bo Pelini, his coaching staff and his players.

“It was pretty special. I told Coach and all these coaches, you know, they've given Jack so many once in a lifetime opportunities,” said Hoffman. “To have another one of those, it speaks volumes about Coach Pelini and the kind of program he has, and really, what he's all about as a person.”

"It puts it all in perspective what the game's really all about. It's a game,” said Tim Beck, Nebraska’s Offensive Coordinator. “It's really great for our players to see that there's something bigger than this.”

Jack’s moment will also be recorded in Nebraska record books, as the touchdown run made him the leading rusher for the day.

“It was pretty awesome,” said Jack.

Jack and his family hope to be finished with chemotherapy in June. Andy Hoffman says Jack’s tumor shrank dramatically since first discovered two years ago.

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